Offbeat

Posted on Monday, July 03, 2017

A career in the event management industry is not only about glamour and glitz, but also round-the-clock work, including hours on the field. It is not a nine-to-five desk job and calls for professionals who can go the extra mile.

Industry overview

An event manager needs to understand what the organiser is trying to achieve through the event. Says Sandeep Mehta, chief operating officer and national head – brand activation, Wizcraft International Entertainment Pvt Ltd, “Event management is a demanding career keeping one on the frontline day in, day out. Glamorous yet gritty, it combines fun and sheer hard work in a way very few industries do. You cannot learn about events sitting at a desk or in a classroom. Being on the job is where you understand what goes into a successful event.”

Skills scene

Communication is crucial in this field. You will work with a number of people from various backgrounds, from CEOs to florists and caterers. “There will be days when you are communicating with celebrities in the morning and dealing with housekeeping in the afternoon. Being humble always helps. There will be times when you will get your work done quickly because of the way you spoke to a person,” says Sanket Bhatt, founder and CEO, Dhinchak Media LLP.

Academic background

There are a number of courses that you can pursue to enter the industry. However, it is vital to complement an academic qualification with industry experience. “Being able to strategically plan an event is crucial. An event manager should also be able to communicate well so that the event is in sync with what the organisers want. A good course will help students gain necessary skills such as strategic planning, communication skills, teamwork, presentation skills, management skills and push you to think out of the box,” says Pravin Joshi, director, National Academy of Event Management and Development.

Adds Vidya Alva, executive vice president – events, Percept ICE, “Students who wish to make a career in this field must participate in organising college festivals, debates, public speaking, and other competitions or get involved in campaign creation and such other activities which involve creativity and organisation. They can also opt for internships to get hands-on practical roles in event management agencies.”

While hiring fresh candidates, companies generally look for enthusiasm, commitment, hard work, passion and attitude. Bhatt adds, “We don’t specifically look for educational qualification when hiring fresh applicants. We pay more attention to the experience. Candidates must be able to convince us that they are capable of working in this field. We have engineers, chartered accountants, company secretaries, MBAs and even doctors working with us.”

Remuneration

At event agencies, fresh recruits can be hired at varied designations including trainees, volunteers, team members, etc. “They can usually expect around Rs 1,20,000 to 3,36,000 per year depending on their talent and qualification,” says Alva.